Third-quarter spurt helps Butler top Highlands
BUTLER TWP — Keep Butler out of transition.
Such was the goal of Highlands coach Corey Dotchin during his team’s non-section boys basketball game on the Golden Tornado’s floor Wednesday night.
“We know they have five guys who can shoot and handle the basketball,” Dotchin said. “We had to slow them down.”
For the most part, the Rams did so — except for a two-minute spurt in the third quarter.
Butler put together a 10-0 run during that time, turning a 2-point deficit into setting the tone for a 69-63 victory.
“We had a few turnovers in there and off they went,” Dotchin said.
Donovan Carney drained a pair of treys during the run, dished off to Braylon Littlejohn for a fast-break layup and converted a layup off the break himself.
When the dust cleared, the Tornado (4-1) had a 46-38 lead with 3:06 left in the quarter. The margin reached 11 at 53-42 by quarter’s end.
“I thought we executed our offense well tonight,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “Donovan started going off and kept on shooting, and I’m fine with that. If you’re hot, just keep on going.”
Carney wound up with 30 points, five assists and two steals. Littlejohn contributed 23 points, five assists and four rebounds.
“When people walk away from this, that’s what they’re gonna see,” Clement said. “But there were other key parts to this game tonight.
“Coleton Welter may have had his best game of the season, battling with their big kid down low.”
Welter had five rebounds and a pair of assists while guarding 6-foot-8 Highlands senior Braydn Foster, who will continue his basketball career at the University of Pennsylvania.
Foster tallied 24 points and eight rebounds. Cameron Reigard had 13 points for the Rams (3-3) before fouling out late. Jordyn Tavarez had 18 points and three assists.
“It was tough trying to contain that (Foster), but other guys were helping out,” Welter said. “We didn’t let him go off on us or totally control the boards. That was important.”
Clement pointed out that Ayden Davis fouled out “by giving himself up and not allowing (Foster) any and-ones.”
Highlands sank 25 of 39 shots from the field. Butler began the game by hitting nine of its first 12 shots, fiver for treys, in taking a nine-point lead in the first quarter.
By halftime, the game was tied.
“I like the way we played tonight,” Dotchin said. “Those turnovers in the third quarter cost us.
“We have three starters back from a 22-6 season. We expect to contend (in WPIAL 4A) this year.”
The Tornado sank 10 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter to thwart any Highlands comeback attempt.
HIGHLANDS 63
Cameron Reigard 5-8 0-0 23, Ali Shareff 1-2 0-0 2, Tommy Calendar 2-5 0-0 5, Braydn Foster 9-14 6-8 24, Jordyn Tavarez 8-9 2-4 18, Troy Bielak 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 25-39 0-14 63.
BUTLER 69
Donovan Carney 10-17 4-5 30, Ayden Davis 0-2 1-2 1, Andrew Lucas 0-1 0-0 0, Braylon Littlejohn 8-13 6-7 23, Kyle Casteel 2-4 0-0 4, Tayt Lucas 2-5 0-0 6, Ayden Andrews 0-1 0-0 0, Stainton Forbes 0-3 2-2 2, Coleton Welter 1-2 0-0 3, Andrew Gettinger 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-49 15-19 69.
Highlands 14 16 12 21 — 63
Butler 23 7 23 16 — 69
3-point goals: Highlands 4 (Reigard 3, Calender), Butler 10 (Carney 6, Littlejohn, Lucas 2, Welter)
JV: Highlands, 53-50 (H: Carmine Lacava 17, Menage Lucas 15; B: Kyle Casteel 16, Jordan Epps 10)
Friday: Slippery Rock at Butler
